Bask in the Glory of These Drool-Worthy Dahlias

The 4-inch-wide blooms of soft yellow have random patterns of red striping all along the petals.

We’re not sure what the name means, but we’ll take it. A showy pompon with 2-inch-wide flowers.

The 4-inch-wide blooms on this semi-cactus variety are a deep red that holds its color well.

This straight cactus dahlia is definitely our knight in shining armor. The white blossoms are 4 inches wide, while the plant reaches only 2 feet tall.

This formal decorative dahlia’s compact size—only 12 inches tall—makes it ideal for containers.

The 1-inch-wide, single-variety dahlia produces velvet red blooms that are a bee magnet in the garden.

The plant might be compact at only 18 inches, but the blooms cloak it entirely for an anything-but-bitsy display.

As its name suggests, this plant is perfect for a hedge or border. Here’s why: it grows to 2 feet tall and is dripping with bright red, 3-inch-wide blooms. Introduced in 1975, this dahlia is a dwarf formal decorative form.

The sharp yellow blossoms on this semi-cactus dahlia are 5 inches wide, and make a terrific cut flower.

This exquisite ball-form dahlia produces apricot-bronze blooms measuring 4 inches in diameter, making this one an arranger’s dream.

The blossoms might not be as flashy as some (the single form dahlia variety is just like that), but the 12-inch-tall bush is as sweet as can be.

We find perfection in this pompon, whose black-red has us hooked. Blossoms measure 1½ inches across, resembling teeny versions of red pinecone ginger.

So delicate, it had us fooled for porcelain! This dwarf dahlia reaches only 18 inches tall yet produces blooms that are 4 inches wide.

It’s a party in each petal: white, 4-inch-wide blooms are spattered with burgundy-purple, as though someone sloshed their cabernet.

We love the bright pink, 4-inch-wide blooms of this straight cactus. Highly recommended as a cut flower.

It's eye-catching, for sure, with 4-inch-wide, deep burgundy blooms tipped in white that scream "king me."

Miniature pink lotus-like blossoms cover this bushy, semicactus-type dahlia.

We love this adorable collarette dahlia, bad behavior and all. Blooms are 3 inches wide, and the bush is 2 feet tall.

Introduced in the late 1980s (when bright colors and neons were very in), this pompom dahlia is one hot little fireball.

The spherical arrangement of petals on each 2-inch-wide pompon has us hypnotized.

This crazy semicactus variety is some serious #wokeuplikethis goals. The 4-inch blooms are a vibrant orange, with an occasional red streak, and the petals are every which way.

You’ve got to be kidding us with the delicate folds of each petal. Blooms are 1½ inches wide and a seductive shade of lavender.

Bright raspberry pompoms, measuring 3 inches wide, brighten up any garden.

We adore the creamy white blooms that measure just 2½ inches wide.

The blooms of this waterlily dahlia are a gorgeous peach blending to yellow, with petals outlined in deep red. They're big, too--their 5 inch-wide blooms will send a whip-crack through any garden they grace.

The showy white blooms on this exquisite semicactus dahlia variety measure 4 inches across and look like they’ve been dipped in deep fuchsia ink.

Who needs fireworks on the Fourth of July if you have these in the garden? The 5-inch flowers make us feel like we've been at the disco all night.

The yellow petals with pink tips have us falling in love. The blooms are just 3 inches wide and hold exceptionally well when cut.

So elegant! These classic white waterlily blooms measure 4 inches wide, making them a showstopper in wedding bouquets and centerpieces.

Is it soft? Is it juicy? These 3-inch-wide blooms of white blending to lavender are so irresistible, you will swear on the...on the Precious.

These luscious blooms are 5 inches wide and a true deep purple. For a good time, pair 'Boogie Nites' with 'Poppers.'

The blossoms on this formal decorative type of dahlia are 2½ inches across; the salmon petals with yellow highlights make us feel like dancing.

We’re pretty sure someone spiked the punch bowl with this one. Coral pink blooms are 5 inches wide and great as cut flowers.

This informal decorative dahlia has pure white flowers spanning a whopping 9 inches across on a shrub 4 feet tall, and will have you singing "do you want to build a snow man?"

The petals on these 8-inch blossoms curl back slightly, resembling flames. This fiery stunner was the cover girl of our April 2013 issue.

The 4-inch blooms can’t make up their minds between lavender and white, and we won’t make them. You'll love this one from head to toe.

All the way from Holland, this variety has 4-inch-wide blooms shaped like balls.

This semi-cactus is noted for exceptionally long-lasting flowers in arrangements. They measure 4½ inches and are pink on the tips, blending to white in the center.

This dahlia variety has 5-inch blooms in a rare golden beige -- anything but 'Blah Blah Blah.' When we see this gorgeous ball form, all we ever do is go "ya ya ya."

"Vroom vroom!" We'd like to take this fiery anemone-form dahlia variety for a spin. Its deep orange blossoms measure 5 inches across.

Blooms are 5 inches across in a rich apricot with lavender blush undertones.

We love this lightly scented orchid-flowering variety; with 3-inch-wide blooms on a bush reaching 3 feet tall, it's a Honka Honka burnin' love. Spinoff variety 'Honka Fragile' has the same form and subtle fragrance, but blooms white with a razor-thin edge of purple on the petals.

Swan Island Dahlias calls this one sassy, and we agree! Blooms measure 5 inches across.

The 2½-foot-tall bush covers itself in orchid-flowering blooms that are fuchsia with a bright yellow center.

The 6-inch blooms are bright red with a touch of yellow. Deeply laciniated petals make this dahlia a showstopper.

Here's a gorgeous stellar-type that has nice foliage to go with those incredible flowers. The 3-inch-wide blooms of burnt apricot with red undersides are giving us a serious case of the jitters.

No, it’s not a coneflower. It's an anemone-flowered dahlia with a pincushion center. Blooms 4 inches wide cover a bush 4 feet tall.

The straight cactus blooms are 4 inches wide and have wonderful stems for cutting. The plant reaches 4½ feet tall.

Because true blue doesn’t exist (yet), we’ll settle for periwinkle. Blooms stand out at 6 inches across.    

¡Dios mío! The phenomenal variegated blooms on 'El Sol' -- up to 12 inches wide on a 4½-foot-tall plant -- would turn even a vampire into a sun-worshipper. Want to learn more about the dahlia varieties you see here? Think about joining a local chapter of the American Dahlia Society.